2008 (May 10) PCT 50 Miler

Saturday morning at 3 AM I was on my way driving down south. Destination: Boulder Oak Camping which is an about 140 miles drive. I only slept 2 hours last night and feel like crap. Unfortunately none of my family was able to join me this time.

Driving on the I-5 South along the beach. I can't see the beach because it's dark but my GPS shows it (blue is water).

It's pretty cold this morning with 37 degree Fahrenheit. I didn't know that then but the day would heat up pretty good later on.

After a 2 hour drive I arrive at the starting line. I fix my feet and get ready for the 6 AM start.

While the day was waking up all runners are slowly arriving at the starting line. It's 22 minutes until the fun starts. I still feel very tired and hope that it will pass once I'm out running.

3 minutes to 6 AM. I just made it back from a bathroom break.

2 minutes to 6 AM. My smile is forced because I yet have to wake up.

At 6 AM sharp we were all off on the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail). I can't help myself thinking how cool it will be running 25 miles on the trail where David Horton broke the PCT record in 2005; a 2,666 miles journey he completed in an amazing 66 days, 7 hours and 16 minutes.

The first 13 miles are basically all uphill climbing from 3,100' to about 4'800'.

After only 25 minutes and 2 miles into the race I feel tired and my feet hurt. I already know that it will be a long day today.

Good morning sun. The day promised to be very beautiful.

After about 3.5 miles we're crossing the Kitchen Greek Road. I wonder how I will feel when I cross this street again in the opposite direction.

PCT = Pacific Crest Trail

Right from the start I was in awe with the beauty of this trail.

After 1 hour and 22 minutes I arrive at the Fred Canyon Road aid station at mile 5.9. I yet have to wake up.

Prior the start somebody told me that he read a story where the writer wrote that the name of this race should be changed to "1'000'000 rocks and 1 left turn". I have to agree as you can see in this picture.

Running the out part in the morning in the shade. When we come back this portion, at least for me, proved to be the hottest one with the sun shining directly onto the trail.

Still going uphill in the first 13 miles.

Along the way we had to climb over a tree, which has fallen directly onto the trail.

Arriving at the 2nd aid station, Dale’s, at mile 13.3. The big uphill is done with.

Despite having run a half-marathon distance I still am not awaked yet and my feet hurt more than usual. I start to wonder if my shoes are dying on me.

Running along PCT truly enjoying the views.

After 4 hours and 5 minutes I arrived at the Todd’s Cabin aid station; 17.1 miles into the run. The day is getting warm by now.

Another unwanted side-effect of my tireness was that I kept hidding rocks and dripping over them. Luckily I never fell but I must have hit my feet at least 10 times and I usually pretty good avoiding rocks.

I'm on my way to the Penny Pines aid station; a 5.2 miles stretch with a few pretty good downhills. At that aid station we have a strict cut-off time which I will beat by one hour.

Despite my fatique and pain I very much enjoyed the PCT.

After passing the Penny Pines aid station there was a 2.1 mile out and back portion. In this picture I am in the out section.

beautiful

After exactly 6 hours I made it to the turn-around point 25 miles into the run. At the last aid station I also changed my running shoes and my feet stopped hurting but still feel tired. It did give me a bit of a boost finding myself at this point in the race.

This poor volunteer stood there writing down race numbers from runners who came to the turn-around point. Two people on horses were amazed to learn that this is a 50 mile runner. The volunteer casually noted that most of this runners do 100 milers too.

I'm back at the Penny Pines aid station the 2nd time 27.7 into the run. 22.3 miles to go.

Who played with the matches?

Truly enjoying the vistas but I am still tired and by now I believe that I will be during the whole distance.

Eric Lumba from Orange County is running ahead of me. On the next aid station he tells me that he's glad that I was behind him because that made him run more. I told him that I was glad having him in front of me because he pushed me to go faster. We kept running together for quite a few miles.

Almost back at the Todd's Cabin. This is the 2nd strict cut-off time but I am now 1.5 hours ahead of it.

Since I have some time to spare at this aid station I allow myself to sit down for 10 minutes which felt awesome. Another runner told me that 2 years ago it was 95 degree Fahrenheit and runners were dropping like flies.

Running back and the day really starts to head up, which I did enjoy.

Coming back into the Dale’s aid station 36.7 miles into the race. I'm still running together with Eric which helped a lot to better ignore my tireness. It's almost all downhill from here!

At the last aid station I told this runner that he has my favorite number (5). He told me that I have the number 75 which is the year he graduated from high school (1975).

This is Les Martisko and I was very much impressed to read that he has completed 270 marathons and ultras. That is amazing!

The day is now its hottest and strangely after 40 miles I finally got over my tireness and in an instant felt new strength in my legs. I break free from Eric and finished 20 minutes before him.

Along the way I saw lots of animals like this one and also a rabbit and two snakes.

In the distance you can see the last aid station 5.9 miles before the finish line. At that aid station I didn't even sit down but was eager to go on. I wished I would have felt like that all race long.

Only about 2 or 3 miles to go. In the distance you can see the freeway which we'll run underneath. The finish line is right after the freeway.

Almost there and I am happy to find myself close to the end.

More than 12 hours ago I was at this point going out. I honestly felt less tired now then when I started. How odd is that.

After 12 hours and 28 minutes I finished. This was a difficult race because I was so tired most of the day. I had a virtual bet with my running buddy Dan Marinsik, who was running the Quicksilver 50 miler, and he beat me by 4 minutes. Now I owe him a steak dinner LOL.